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| Report: | PL1 welcomed new kids on the block Canterbury to Langley Towers yesterday for what turned out to be a hard fought match. With boths teams spending some while negotiating the usual melee in the car park and ending up parked closer to West Wickham than the club, things eventually got under way.
First up London jnr v May
This one was a fairly routine opener to the match. The ball was bouncing rather oddly (quality control not what it used to be now Dunlop balls are made in China), but both protagonists were into their strides from the off, with Steve having sufficient control to make a number of dying lengths and set up the opportunity to apply pressure. Tom came back at the end of all 3 games but Steve completed a good start for PL.
Next door, Rich v Henley.
Didn't really see much of this but the bit I did see saw Adam really competing for the points, with good movement and pressure applied by both players. Adam looked rather jaded at the start of the evening and seemed by his own admission to run low on energy levels in the final game, but a good effort nonetheless.
Next on London snr v Magor.
Despite the scoreline this was a good competitive match from the off. The author sadly struggled to keep focus for an entire game, with good spells in all of them culminating in a bit of a switch off when it mattered. The 2nd was a particular case in point having gone off to a 7-2 lead on the back of the coaching staff's advice. Joe hung in and saved 5 game balls, and 1-1 became 2-0. Joe held on strongly to resist a mini comeback from 0-5 in the 3rd and take the match and surely takes the fairest player award.
Next door Pratt v Harrison.
Being on court next door I had to rely on my ears for progress reports on this match. Full volume obscenities contributed to the virtual swearbox, and splintering racket frames to the court sweeper's duties, but say what you like about WW, he doesn't lack a bit of passion. In truth WW was rather concerned about various physical frailties at the start of the evening, and as is so often the case in these circumstances, obviously got off to a flyer, capitalising on Duane's slow start. Reports of the usual array of bizarre winning shots were no surprise.
As on so many occasions against various opponents though, never say die with Duane. Having comfortably taken the 3rd he weathered the storm and a match ball in the 4th to get it back level. At this point the histrionics ramped up to stratospheric proportions and the wheels came off the WW bus. Duane rounded off the 5th fairly comfortably.
Last on, probably the match of the night - Robbins v Brewer.
JEJ was another one looking like he'd rather be tucked up in his sickbed at the start of the evening, and in the 3rd rally collapsed to the floor as the old war wound in the knee gave him major gyp trying to avoid a bodyline shot. Despite these Douglas Jardine tactics though, he toughed out the next few points and just snuck the 1st at the death despite a comeback from 5-8 by John. The 2nd was over in double quick time with JEJ delivering a masterclass. Never one to lie down, John battled back to take the 3rd and JEJ had to battle hard to take the 4th. A really good spectacle with both players playing quality squash.
So, a good competitive match and the usual friendly after match banter in the bar as ever with the Bexley/Rodmersham (Canterbury) boys. The author was finally ejected from the bar just before the witching hour. Already, we're now into our two week break, and it's looking like it'll be a struggle to field a full team for the whole of the 1st half, such being the vagaries of the PL squad selection and player availability process! |
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| Author: | CL |
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